Copyright The Oregonian
The Oregon State football coaching search is underway, and several names have been floated as potential candidates for the job. It is early in the process as the coaching carousel continues to spin across college football. Over the next two weeks, barring a major announcement or change in the search dynamics, The Oregonian/OregonLive will examine some of the potential leading candidates for OSU’s next head coach. We begin with a name we’ve heard from the start: Brent Vigen Current job: HC, Montana State Age: 50 Head coaching record: 54-12 (5th season) Why it works Vigen is a product of the 18-time national champion North Dakota State football program. He played tight end for the Bison in the mid-90s, and cut his teeth as a coach at NDSU from 1998 to 2013. After a few years as a lead assistant for Wyoming, during which he coached future NFL star Josh Allen, Vigen took the job at Montana State in 2021. Vigen is widely respected across college football as a program builder who gets the most out of his players. The Bobcats have made it to the FCS national championship game twice in his tenure (2021, 2024), relying on a typically formidable offensive line to be among the leaders in the Big Sky in rushing every season since Vigen took over. His style fits the longstanding identity of Oregon State. Vigen’s upbringing does, too. He was raised in small town Buxton, North Dakota (population 348) and is the son of a football coach. Hiring an ascendant FCS coach with a reputation for winning (who is also a culture fit) would be a sensible choice for OSU as it seeks to reset the program. There is also the possibility Vigen would bring some of his best players at Montana State with him in the transfer portal, which could create a solid foundation for the Beavers to rebuild their roster. Why it might not work Perhaps Vigen’s success in FCS doesn’t translate. Just how much does he have to navigate the NIL space? It’s clear Vigen values relationships and is someone with connections in the sport, but can he recruit in FBS? He would argue yes, considering the Bobcats had the No. 119-rated high school class in 2025 according to 247Sports — ranked above many FBS programs and just one spot below OSU’s future Pac-12 compatriot Colorado State. But it’s a different ballgame recruiting at this level, and doing so successfully enough to compete. OSU had a top 75 class and spent some serious cash in the transfer portal this past offseason, but ended up winless through seven games before firing Trent Bray. Vigen faces the challenge of navigating (and perhaps fixing) some potential institutional issues at OSU, and making sure he has the resources necessary to win games in the new Pac-12. Most of the reasons it might not work lie outside Vigen’s control in a chaotic time for college football, and for the Beavers in particular. He is one of the strongest potential candidates for the OSU job with few blemishes on his résumé. Is he interested in Oregon State? From the moment the search began, Vigen’s name was floated as a leading candidate at OSU. He was at the one-yard line to take the job at Washington State after last season before negotiations fell apart. It’s clear he’s ready to make this type of jump in what has been a successful career so far, and is viewed as a likely option for the Beavers. It’s a two-way street: Vigen will have to sell his vision for the program to Scott Barnes and OSU, and they in turn will need to sell the institution to Vigen in order to make the move feel like it’s worth it for him. OSU will not likely be the only school to come calling, but it feels likely that Vigen would be interested in a move to Corvallis. Oregon State (2-7) vs. Sam Houston State (0-8) When: Saturday, Nov. 8 Time: 7:00 p.m. PT Where: Reser Stadium TV Channel: The CW Stream: DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
